Western Australia Winner

Lalla Rookh Wine Store

Inside this unassuming little CBD bar you’ll find an atmospheric, cosy and carefully selected wine store with tables and chairs nestled among the bottles. Sommelier Jeremy Prus, who is responsible for the masterfully constructed, edgy list, lives up to his growing reputation as a respected wine buyer and palate. “We’re proud to offer these wines,” declares the by-the-glass list, which immediately makes you feel good about what’s to come: older wines, international, natural, domestic, premium, value, boutique, cult and rare… all with an accuracy of vintage, and most available by the half glass. The pricing is varied – due to their license, they are able to offer bottleshop prices plus a $10 corkage to drink there. They run tastings weekly and special offers via their mailing list as well. The list offers 450 wines. It’s moderately sized, but expertly put together. It touches on each region around the world with something in most styles and price ranges. Lalla Rookh is totally exciting and shouldn’t be missed. Erin Larkin

Lalla Rookh Wine Store

The list begins with an exemplary international collection by the glass – standard and premium sets with the latter offered in half (60ml) and full (120ml) glasses. Thoughtfully curated by Jeremy Prus to sit on the cutting edge with sustainability a significant influence on choice. Still classics from around the globe are a presence. Dine in with Joel Valvasori’s delicious take on modern Italian.

Finalists

Steve

CUISINE Modern Australian with French influence
WINE LIST Michael Hartley
WINEs ON LIST 600 (49 by the glass)
WINE PRICES $$$ ($25-$9 by the glass)

This iconic hotel is the setting for the long-established The Wine Store at Steves and more recent bistro. It has a monumental list of classy international wines as well as an excellent range of locals. The choice by the glass or bottle is formidable, and there’s more in the cellar or The Wine Store, just in case.

Fraser’s

CUISINE Modern Australian
WINE LISTWilliam Roser
WINEs ON LIST 636 (22 by the glass)
WINE PRICES $$ ($24-$10 by the glass)

A list that highlights the great traditional wines of Australia, most notably chardonnay, cabernet and shiraz. No surprises given its home in WA, but they have sourced well beyond the borders with options throughout, including by the glass, and there are interesting selections from emerging players.

Glass-Rated

Apple Daily

With the closing of the Print Hall Dining Room, Apple Daily has boosted its wine list dramatically. Jean-Charles Mahe has assembled an impressive list that focuses on sustainable winemaking and the cutting edge from home and abroad. There’s plenty of riesling, other white varieties, and medium-bodied reds, to drink alongside the lively Asian dishes.

As always, the wines at Guillaume’s restaurants are carefully chosen to suit his modern bistro French cuisine. The focus in this international list is on Western Australia and France with carefully chosen representation from around the globe. There’s a neatly balanced Champagne collection and an adventurous offering by the glass.

Budburst

Budburst is a lively new bar on the Perth scene. Rachael Niall handles the wine list and the bar with aplomb. Impressive with aperitifs, digestifs, spirits and beers as well as the 100 bottle international wine list. It balances established and emerging producers neatly, pays homage to the new wave in sections such as ‘Orange Wine, Skin Contact Whites, Curios’ and draws customers into the list with its headings and her choices.

Bwg Steakhouse

This is an international list built around comparisons between an extensive range of varietals from Australia and overseas. Local wines are given good coverage, especially those from Margaret River. When it comes to reds to give a lift to the restaurant’s steaks, the Barossa, McLaren Vale and Penfolds dominate with shiraz and when it comes to cabernet Margaret River and Coonawarra are best represented.

Duende Tapas Bar

The tapas bar is clearly focused on sharing the wines of the Iberian Peninsula and local wines sourced from Spanish varietals. It does more by offering examples of cutting edge producers at home and abroad whose wines are likely to suit the dishes on the menu. Its list offers useful background information that should interest and perhaps educate its customers. Well worth a visit.

Friend

CUISINE Modern International
WINE LIST Clyde Bevan
WINEs ON LIST 814 (28 by the glass)
WINE PRICES $$$ ($75-$11 by the glass)

The fundamentals never change at this illustrious Hall of Famer. There’s an impressive range by the glass; buckets of bubbly; ranges of medium-priced whites and reds from around the globe labelled ‘Fine’; and the Sommelier’s Connoisseur’s Collection. These are the big hitters mostly with considerable age, fairly priced considering that. The collection of clarets and Burgundies is amazing: as are the verticals of Leeuwin Chardonnay, Moss Wood Cabernet, Mt Mary Quintet, Hill of Grace and Grange. Always served with panache.

Hybla Bar + Grill

Albany’s Hybla features many Great Southern wines on its small list of 100, many with little-known labels. Consequently, dining there is a great way to get an update on the local scene. Wines from other states and overseas are chosen to complement the local selection. There’s a focus on minimal intervention in winemaking and showcasing a wide range of varieties. There is a minimalist wine list as well as one on which the sommelier offers detailed comments on the wines.

Il Lido

Daniel Wegener post-Print Hall is on his own turf by the beach at Cottesloe. His list shares his love of Italy’s diversity, showcasing the established and the emerging. Australia is represented, too, on the edges with new and exciting names (Bekkers, Higgins, Berliner) and enough established players to satisfy most. It’s a multi-faceted list of the highest order.

Indiana

This is a list that will be warmly received by many winelovers with numerous familiar names to bring comfort. There are options for West Aussie choices, none more so than in the Cabernets, but plenty from all around Australia.

Lalla Rookh

One of the features at Lalla Rookh is an extraordinary premium by-the-glass list with a half or full glasses of three vintages of a Barbaresco, an aged Barolo, a Burgundy and a Vasse Felix Heytesbury with 10 years of age. The rest of the list visits all parts of the vinous world with an emphasis on the cutting edge but with plenty of familiar choices to fall back on. Beers and spirits may also tempt.

Meeka

CUISINE Modern Australian with a Middle Eastern Twist
WINE LIST Faye Clarke & Naveet Singh
WINEs ON LIST 48 (16 by the glass)
WINE PRICES $$ ($15-$9.50 by the glass)

Meeka has an impeccably balanced small list that places attention on biodynamic producers. It is global in scope and includes a substantial number of varietals in its 50 bottles. The spicy North African cuisine is best with whites and light- to medium-bodied reds and the emphasis is placed there. One of the best small lists in the country.

No Mafia

Northbridge’s No Mafia has been bold in its decision to run with a list featuring just 20 wines. Serving all by the glass and offering a carefully chosen line-up of left-of-field Australian and Italian wines gives them a well-earned glass rating. The focus is on sustainable practices and cutting edge winemaking as well as a wide range of varietals. Daring yet successful.

The Old Brewery

An exceptional list of local heroes. A great deal of focus has gone into assembling a fine list of Australian classics and emerging stars, with a nice sprinkling of offshore wines of interest – a Domaine Weinbach Pinot Noir for example. The riesling selection impresses and, for an establishment that is a carnivore’s dream, there is an endless range of excellent reds.

Piari & Co

Situated at Dunsborough in the north of the Margaret River wine region, there’s plenty of less-well-known delights from local regions and around the world – as well as some emerging classics – to offer customers plenty to catch and hold their interest (Marq, Whicher Ridge, Las Vino, Preveli, Windows). Diverse by the glass and with breadth in the beer list, Pirari & Co is just the kind of list you’d love to see in a wine region.

Raffles Hotel

Given that it’s owned by the Colonial Group, it’s no surprise that the list starts with a wonderful selection of beers. This is an international list that has substantial breadth covering both established and emerging producers from Australia and abroad at moderate prices.

A Hall of Famer that has lost none of its allure. Still one of the best by-the-glass lists in the country with a wonderful bubbly selection and impeccable balance between the classics and the cutting edge. There’s amazing depth and breadth across the entire list and an eclectic range of local wines. What’s not to like.

Royal

CUISINE Modern Australian
WINE LIST Tracey Baines
WINEs ON LIST 166 (55 by the glass)
WINE PRICES $ ($22-$9 by the glass)

Enjoy the ambience at Claisebrook Cove at this bar restaurant. The attraction of the Royal is clear - a moderate list made much more accessible by the offering of more than 50 wines by the glass - at moderate prices. The list balances established and emerging producers from around the globe, has a pleasing focus on local producers.

Settlers Tavern

CUISINE Modern Australian
WINE LIST Karen Gough
WINEs ON LIST 500 (25 by the glass)
WINE PRICES $$ ($12-$6.50 by the glass)

A wonderful list taking advantage of all the joys that Western Australia has to offer but ensuring that there are plenty of exceptional wines from around the globe. All the information you could ever need to make a choice. A list to make the West proud.